Liquid cooling apparatus



June 6, 1933.l

LIQUID CO Vled July 24, 1931 1j EBINGER i 1,912,572 l OLING APPARATUS nain-yer b @w 7% x7 WM June 6, 1933.

D. H. EBINGER LIQUID COQLING APPARATUS Filed July 24,1931 s sheets-sheet 2 gyn/vento@ Junee,1933. D, H EBMGER 1,912,572

LIQUID COOLING APPARATUS Filed July 24, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 gn/vento@ lIQrCEz'rztgef' @1, www

lPatentedY June 6, 1933 l i UNITED ySTATES PATE DAVID H. ECINGER, OFCOLUMBUS, OHIO, A

MFG. COMPANY, F COLUMBUS,

NT OFF I CE SSIGNOR 'IlO THE A. EBINGER SANIiABY OHIO, A`\CORPORATION 40F OHIO LIQUID oooLnm ArPARA'rUs vApplication led July 24,

of a pre-cooler through which the drinkingY water is initially circulated prior to passing through the final coolingy coils of the apparatus, the construction'of the pre-cooler bem such that the cold waste water, which drains from the receptor or basinof therefrigerator, is circulated throu h the re-cooler prior to being dischar ed rom t e refri erator, the circulation o this waste water t rou h the pre-coolerbeing so carried out that t e waste water may be used to extract heat from the incoming drinking water, thereby lowering the` temperature of the drinkingwater so on the part of the final cooling apparatus will be necessary than is now used 1n apparatus of this kind. l

Another object of the invention resides in a pre-cooler for the purpose specified which consists ofl a casing having insulated walls and wherein the casing is provided with a helical coil through which the drinking water is circulated, said coil being vertically ar-l rangedA within the casing and ositioned in close proximity to aninner wa l of the casing and the wall df a cylindrical core positioned within the coil to provide a passage for the circulation of the chilled or cold waste water, which water will gravitate over the several loops forming the coil and into a waste outlet, the coil being formed from a heat conducting material such as cop r in order to permit of eiiicient heat trans er between the cold waste water and the warmer drinking water.

A further object of the invention is to provide an insulated casing with an additional chamber concentrically arranged with re- 50 spect to the chamber containing the pre-coolthat less operation and expenditure of power v 1931. serial no. 852,838.

mg coil and a main water cooling coil 1s aring coil and in which chamber a refrigeratranged connected with the "refrigeratingap- I paratus-` and the water main respectively. Connections are provided between the waste conduit and the outer chamber for directing part of saidwaste water into the outer chamber wherein the refrigerating coil and.

themain water cooling coil is located so as to maintain the water level therein automati'` cally at a point above said coils'. y

W ith these and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features of g construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts hereinafter to bemore fully described and pointed out in thev appended claims. 'i In the accompanying drawings z'4 figure l is a vertical sectional view taken through the refrigerating prising the present invention,

Figure 2 is; an enlarged view taken through the cooling coil housing of the apparatus, j l y Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, -the numeral 1 designates the outer casing of a mechanical refrigerated drinking fountain or water dispenser. This casing is generally of cubical or box-like form in the specific adaptation of the invention selected for illustration, although insofar as the casing 1 is. concerned the same may assume any shape or appearance. In this instance, howapparatus com'- vertical sectional f ever, the casing is formed to include a .base portion 2 on whichis positioned the usual Y electrically motor driven compressor unit 3 of any vsuitable type commonly found in connection with mechanical refrigerating apparatus. Supported above the compressor unit by means of vertical osts 4 is a double-walled coil housing 5 o cylindrical form comprising theinner and outer metallic walls 6 and 7 between which is confined insulation in the form of corkboard or the like adapted for the purpose of minimizing heat transfer between the interior of the housing andthe atmosphere. Formed concen- 'loos trically with the outer wall 7 and spaced therefrom is an inner cylindrical wall 8 dividing the housing into outer and inner chambers 9 and 10. The outer chamber is adapted toA receive an expansion coil 11 of the mechanical refrigerating apparatus and the main water cooling coil 12. The coil 11 is the lower end employed for cooling the liquid within the chamber 9 which liquid may be water, brine or the like. The coil 12 located at the bottom of the chamber 9 and below the coil 11 is immersed in the liquid so that the drinking water, which is circulated through the coil 12 in any suitable manner, may have its temperature suitably lowered prior to the discharge of the water by way of the bubbler valve 13 arranged exteriorly of the casing 1.

Arranged in the top of the casing 1 and adjacent the drinking bubbler 14,l having a connection with the valve 13, is a receptor or basin 15 which is adapted to receive the waste water which is inevitably ,present in the operation of vdrinking fountains of this character. The receptor or basin 15 includes a drain pipe 16 which is led to the housing 5 and connected at its lower end with the casing of a sealtrap 17. Formed within this casing is a trough or cup 18 into which the lower end of the drain pipe 16 'extends and which is adapted to receive the waste water draining through the pipe 16. The trough with the water therein forms a seal and prevents the warmer atmospheric air from entering the interior of the cooler. The waste water within the trough will flow over the upper edges thereof and downwardly into a stand pipe 19 connected at its upper end to of the seal trap casing 17 and at its lower end to a fitting `2O. located at the bottom of the chamber 10. Communicating with the stand pipe 19 through the fitting 20 is a horizontally arranged pipe line 21 in which is positioned a pipe T 22 having a connection with the interior of the chamber 9 by means of a short pipe nipple 23. The outer end of the pipe -ine 21 is closed by a cap 24 which may be removed from time to time in order to drain the chamber 9 for cleaning or other purposes. The waste water ilowing through the pipes 19, 21 and 23 intothe chamber 9 may thus be utilized to fill the chamber 9 and after reaching the level indica-ted at 25 will be even with the outlet ports 26 formed in the' side walls of the seal trap casing 17. Any

waste water which ris're above this level will ow through the ports 26and into the chamber- 10 wherein the pre-cooling coil or heat exchanger27 is located and to which the prsent invention is particularly directed;-

e waste water is adapted to contact with 'this heat exchanger or coil in order that the temperature of the drinking water may be lowered prior to its circulation through the drinking water formed from copper tub coil 12 and to permit this without expenditure of additional mechanical effort.

To permit of this economy in the operation of coolers of this character the heat eX- changer or coil 27, shown in Figures 2 an 3, is vertically arranged within the chamber 10 and has one end connected to a pipe line 28 leading vto a water main or other supply (not shown). The other or upper end of the coil 27 is connected with the main or inal water cooling coil 12 by means of a ipe section 29 which is connected to the coiFs 27 and 12 respectively, by means of suitable connections 30 and 31. The coil 27, which is positioned in close proximity to the cylindrical wall of the chamber 10, has positioned therein a core 32 which is in the shape of an inverted shell having its upper end wall 33 slightly inclined towards the coils comprising the heat exchanger 27. The cylindrical wall of the core 32 is also in close proximity to the coil so as to provide restricted passages between the walls of the chamber 10 and the walls ofthe coil 32. vThis will cause the waste water issuingv from the ports 26 to takea tortuous path and trickle lfrom one coil to the other, collecting in the/bottom of the chamber 10 wherein 4it finds its outlet through openings 34 20, into the waste line 35 and exterior of the cabinet 1 to a suitable point pf disposal. It will be seen by this construction that the waste water is permitted to circulate over the coil 27 and that the latteriis of sufficient length to permit a large volume of drinking water to be cooled and remains within the coil for an ample interval of time to secure eicient heat exchange between said waste and drinking water.

By the use of the heat exchanger or coil 27 the temperature of the drinking water will be materially lowered prior to the time when the drinkin water is submitted to the action of the mec anically operatedV refrigerating apparatus, this being accomplished by extracting a l ortion of the heat from the yv the use of the cold waste water which heretofore has been allowed to escape without performing any useful function. By thus pre-cooling the drinking water the operation of the refrigerating mechanism is correspondingly lightened and an economy of appreciable proportions thereby secured.

The'.precooling coil 27, which is usually ing, is somewhat flattened horizontally in .order to provide for the greatest length of tubing within the height of `he chamber 10 and to present a broader contact surface to the waste water and to also retard the waste waterfin its flow downwardly from one loop of the coil to the other. Due to the small clearance be- Itween .the inner wallof the chamber 10, the

an opening 37 formed 32, the waste water will be held for a considerable time period between the loops forming the coil before freeing itself and passing out through the waste llne or drain 35. The core 32, which is preferably of a rust-proof sheet metal construction although the same may be formed from wood or other material, is made open at its lower end and supported in place within the coil 27 by its engagement with the lowermost loop thereof and held in roper spaced relation centrally Within the coil by means of the threaded boss 36 of the shell tra casing 17 and connecting the up er end ci) the water stand pipe 19, which oss extends through centrally in the Wall An opening 38 is also form- 33 for the reception of the of the core. ed in the wall vertically arranged tube section 39 of the coil 27 connected with the drinkin water supply line. 28. `The position of t e tube sectlon 39 within the opening 38 will also tc'nd to hold the core in parallel relationship with the inner surface of the coil 27.

The upper vend of the cabinet may be finished in any suitable manner and the to wall thereof forming the basin 15 may a so be provided with a depression 40 wherein besides the bubbler 14a valved glass filler 41 is provided which has its inlet. end connected at any suitable point between the dischar e controlled valve 13 and the outlet side of t e main cooling coil 12. The outlet end 42 of the glass filler as well as the bubbler 14 is positioned so that the waste water therefrom will flow into the basin 15. The upper open end of the basin 15 may be covered by a perforated plate 43 and a screen 44 may be provided 4between the plate 43 and the bottom of the basin 15 in order to arrest any particles of foreign matter contained within the water before the same enters the cooler. The screen may be removed from time to time for cleaning purposes by removing the fastening element 45 for holding the plate 43 in place.

The precooling coil may also be removed n Vfrom time to time for cleaning by unscrewing the clamping nut 46 permitting the plate 47 to be lifted off giving access to the pipe connections 48 after first removing the loose packing material surrounding the same. Byv

disconnecting the pipes at this point and un- .t-hreading the seal trap casing 17 from its connection with the stand'pipe 19, the coil 27 and the shell 32 may be lifted free from the unit.

In view'of ythe foregoing it will be seen thatthel present invention provides a simple, inexpensive and positively operating heat exchanger or pre-cooler bymeans of which economy in the operationv of mechanical refriglcooling coil arranged in operating condition. With the` exception of the slight servicing in the removal of the strainer or screen provided within the receptor basin, no further service of the cooler is required. It will be understood, of course, that various changes maybe made in the con-A struction of the cooler and the arrangement of various parts, and I therefore do not limit myself to the precise details of construction disposed chamber, a connection between the inlet side of said pre-cooling coil and a source of water supply, a connection between the outlet side of said pre-cooling coil and the final cooling coil, a receptor adapted to receive waste water from 'said final cooling, coil, a dram condult connecting the receptor and both of said chambers, and means prokthe concentricallyV vided in connection with said drain conduit for maintaining a certain liquid level within the outer of said chambers and for directing' part of said waste water into contact with said pre-cooling coil.

2. In a refrigerated drinking fountain. a cylindrical housing having insulated walls and provided with a centrally disposed charnber, a second chamber within said housing concentrically arranged with respect to the first named chamber, a vertically arranged pre-cooling coil in said centrally disposed chamber, a final cooling coil arranged in the bottom of said second chamber, a refrigerant expansion coil above said final cooling coil and spaced lfrom the latter, a connection between saidl pre-cooling coil and final cooling coil, a' connection between-said pre-cooling coil and a source of drinking water supply', a discharge valve in the outlet from said final cooling coil, a receptor for the waste water lis from said valve, a drain conduit from said y receptor communicating with both of said chambers, and means formed in connection with said drain `conduit for directing a portion of said waste chamber to maintain a liquid level therein above said final cooling and expansion coil and for also directing part of said waste water into-contact with said pre-cooling coil.

3. In a refrigerated drinking fountain. a water cooler including a. housing formed with insulated walls and having an outer and inner chamber, said chambers being concentrically water into the secondv ing coil within -ceiving the water arranged with respect to eachother, a precooling coil arranged within the inner of said chambers, a final cooling coil in the outer of said chambers, the inlet end of said precooling coil being connected with a source of4 water supply, a connection between the discharge end of said pre-cooling coil and said final cooling'coil, said outer chamber being adapted to receive a body of liquid to immerse said final cooling coil, a discharge valve for controlling the outlet of said main cooling coil, a waste water receptor for refrom said valve, a drain conduit from said receptor having an outlet into each of said chambers whereby the waste Water flowing through said. outlets will maintain said liquid level Within the outer chamber and circulate over said pre-cooling coil.

4. In a refrigerated drinking fountain, a cabinet, a cylindrical housing Within said cabinet having Walls composed of heat insulatingmaterial, an inner cylindrical wall Within said housing dividing the latter into inner and outer chambers'concentrically arranged with respect to each other, a pre-coolthe inner of said chambers, a final cooling coil located in the outer of said chambers, aconnection between the discharge Y end of said pre-cooling coil and said final cooling coil, a connection between the inlet end of said pre-"cooling coil and a sourcel of Water supply, a valve located at the top of said cabinet and adapted to control the outlet from said final cooling coil, a receptor basin in the top of said cabinet and adapted to receive the waste Water from said valve, a drain conduit from said receptor leading to said inner chamber, an outlet port in said drain conduit for directing a portion of said Waste water into contact with said pre-cooling coil, and means for directing a portion of said waste water from said drain pipe into the outer of said chambers to maintain a liquid level therein above said final cooling coil.

5. In a refrigerator drinking fountain, a housing having insulated walls and provided with a pair of chambers, a pre-cooling coil in one of said chambers, a final Water cooling coil arranged in the other of said chambers, a connection between the inlet side of said pre-cooling coil and a source of water supply, a connection between the outlet side of said pre-cooling coil and the final cooling coil, a receptor adapted to receive waste Water from said final cooling coil, a drain conduit connecting the receptor and both of said chambers, and means provided in connection with said drain conduit for maintaining a certain liquid level within the chambers for the final cooling coil and for directing part of said waste water into contact with said pre-cooling coil.

6. In a refrigerator drinking fountain, a housing having a chamber therein, a vertically disposed Wateipre-cooling coil of helical form arranged within said chamber and lying adjacent the side wall thereof, the inlet side of said coil being connected with a.

source of drinking water supply, a core withv in said coil having lill) 

